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The Group Business Outlook recently released by Cvent depicts an expected drop across the board for 2019’s fourth quarter. This comes even before the impact of the coronavirus is truly felt, causing concern for what’s to come in the months ahead.

Demand for group bookings was already anticipated to be low as a result of softening business investment in the U.S., and now West Coast venues in particular may need to brace for an even greater drop in the first half of 2020.

Lower projections are resulting in hoteliers becoming more aggressive in locking contracts. Event planners should expect to receive increased pressure from their venue contacts as hotels look to fill their short-term booking windows.

Throw in growing anxiety about the coronavirus effect into this mix, and event executives might already be trading in New Year’s resolutions for new training in crisis management.

If you have any feedback about the newsletter or news tips, feel free to reach out via email at lw@skift.com.

The Best of EventMB

The Best of EventMB is our newest section, giving you a look into key content from EventMB, whether it be reports, articles, or resources for planners. EventMB joined the Skift family in September and is the largest online media resource for trends, technology, innovation, and education in the events industry.

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